Grandson of Johann Sebastian Bach and son of Johann Christoph
Friedrich Bach (1732-1795). He was educated by his father and
by his uncle Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) in London. There
he made himself a name as a musician and as a teacher. After
his uncle's death he travelled to Paris and the Netherlands
before he became musical director in Minden.

King Friedrich
Wilhelm II engaged him in Berlin in 1789 and after the king
died in 1805 he became musical director for queen Louise of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1811 he retired after prince Heinrich,
King Friedrich Wilhelm III's brother, granted him a pension.
Little of his work has survived.

In 1843 he met Robert
Schumann when the Bach monument in Leipzig was unveiled. He
died two years later.